Having been a professional truck driver and trainer for more than 30 years, I find that you never, ever know it all. There are always new things to learn. My primary goal with this blog is to help other drivers (especially newer ones) with pertinent information and tips to enable them to work happier and more safely. Guest posts, contributors and feed-back are always welcome and wanted!

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Thursday, May 9, 2013

Qualifications of Obama's new pick for Transportation Secretary!

Anthony Foxx

Although he doesn't have a true transportation background, he has been in favor of several new transportation initiatives in the city, which include improving local highways, adding a runway at the airport, extending a line-rail line and bringing streetcars back to the city.Wow!

President Obama nominated Anthony Foxx, the mayor of Charlotte, N.C., to replace Ray LaHood as the next transportation secretary on Monday.

Here’s what you need to know about Foxx:

It’s a smart move politically for the White House. Not only does this give the president another minority on his cabinet, but this move also boosts a rising star in the Democratic Party. Well-regarded in his state, Democratic strategists have said that Foxx, 41, could run for governor or the Senate in the coming years. He recently passed up an earlier opportunity to run for higher office when then-Gov. Bev Perdue, a Democrat, decided not to seek reelection.

Foxx had already announced three weeks ago that he would not seek another mayoral bid, saying he wanted to spend more time with his two children. “I do not want to be a father who looks back and wishes I had spent more time with them,” he said in a statement.

This position could give Foxx further credentials for a possible run at higher office in an increasingly purple state. In 2008, the Tar Heel State voted for then-Sen. Obama, though it went red in 2012.

Since announcing a slew of white men for high-level cabinet positions in the start of his second term—including Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel—the president has nominated several women and minorities after receiving criticism. The move, however, does leave the cabinet without a high-profile Republican, like LaHood.

He’s been on the rise in North Carolina politics. Foxx was the first Democrat to get elected as the city’s mayor in 22 years. Raised by a single mother and his grandparents, he eventually went to Davidson College and became the first black student body president.

“They taught me to take pride in hard work, to take responsibility for my actions, and to understand that education could expand my mind and transform my life,” he said at the Democratic National Convention, which was hosted Charlotte.

Following Davidson, he attended law school at New York University and went into practicing law before going into politics. In 2005, he was elected to the city council. Four years later, he ran for mayor and won, becoming the city’s youngest mayor and only second African American to hold the seat.

He’s been noted for his urban planning strategy. Since coming into office nearly four years ago, Foxx has led an effort to add 13,000 new jobs to Charlotte—an accomplishment that was heavily noted when Democrats held their convention there last year. Although he doesn’t have a true transportation background, he has been in favor of several new transportation initiatives in the city, which include improving local highways, adding a runway at the airport, extending a line-rail line and bringing streetcars back to the city.

Administration officials, quoted when word of his nomination broke, said he was able to bring transportation advancements to a changing urban environment.

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Having spent the last 36 years (23 as a trainer) driving tractor-trailer combinations and being involved with 3rd party logistics, I have gained valuable experience in such areas as safety, driver recruitment, hiring, DOT file set-up and maintenance, dispatching,on board computer training and have assisted at many start-up locations.

Having been both an employer and an employee, I can objectively see both sides of issues pertaining to management-employee relations. I maintain an excellent relationship with my supervisors, as well as drivers. Have owned and operated three successful businesses. Experienced in the fundamentals of bookkeeping, accounting principles and income tax preparation. Extensive, specific experience in the interview and hiring process of drivers, warehouse workers, driver helpers, and administrative assistants. Specialties include customer relations, driving, DOT regulations, hiring, leadership, logistics, training, transportation, dispatching, safety.

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